What's a Podcast?

It's called "PodCasting" and it really is the next big thing. I was in New York City recently and at one point ended up on a crosstown bus. I pulled out my iPod and tuned into my own programming. The woman sitting across from me took hers out. I noticed that both of the strap hangers between us were also wearing the white headphones of cool. There were several other people using other portable music players with headphones that weren't white and cool. I realized that the majority of riders on that bus were connected to some sort of media.

Wherever I go, whether on a plane, train, bus, subway, tram, or on the highway, people are using iPod's and other portable music players.

PodCasting brings "radio" to the digital world. PodCast producers create programs that are uploaded to the internet. PodCast listeners "subscribe" to whichever PodCasts interest them. The PodCasts are downloaded to their computers, portable music players, and even to their cell phones.

PodCasting really is radio without the radio. Here's how it works for me. On my computer, I have subscribed to a series of podcasts using iTunes 4.9. When new content is available, the PodCasts are downloaded to my computer and transferred to my iPod. I listen to PodCasts when I'm in the office using iTunes, and as I travel, listen to them on my iPod.

In my case, I listen to PodCasts while walking, traveling in my truck and car, riding my (Rans recumbent) bicycle, paddling my canoe, riding on city buses and trams, or flying in airplanes.

Radio MacGuys provides MacOS related news, opinion, hints and tips. You can subscribe by downloading the software at iPodderX.com (for MacOS users) or by visiting ipoddernet.sourceforge.net/ (for PC users). The subscription link is http://feeds.feedburner.com/RadioMacguysPodcast.